skeleton animal fabric

When we were out shopping my daughter said mom I love this material. So how could I not get it and make a cute dress with it! I also love anything polka-dots so I grabbed this black and white dots to got with it. I made a mistake when I was cutting the skirt part and it didn't get cut on the fold so I had a seam down the middle. Well I was just going to put it in the back but somehow it got on the front so I had this ugly seam down the middle of the dress. I sat and looked at it and decided it had to get covered so I made the ruffle and sewed it down the center. I love how it turned out and looking back many of my mistakes end up working out for the better! It causes me to get creative and it always seems to work out to my advantage! This dress might be a gift for my niece if we happen to draw her name for Christmas if not it will have a home here. It just needs a button in the center of the flower and it is done.

ruffle mania

This is my daughter's christmas dress. It was a lot of ruffles but I love how it turned out and can't wait for her to wear it. The pattern is the stella dress from izzy and ivy designs. I am a glutton when it comes to ruffles! It is my love hate relationship with them. love how they look but there is just no easy way to do them other than the old fashion way of gathering and pulling the thread. I have gotten quite efficient and can whip out some ruffles quickly. It is true practice makes perfect. After I finished this dress I said it would be awhile before I did another but I quickly made a skirt from the pattern for thanksgiving. I adore those ruffles down the sides.

Halloween skirt

I just love riley blake fabrics! The colors and patterns are always so perfect! This is called trick or treat. The pattern is a take on the patchwork skirt I just cut some blocks even smaller and left some bigger. I have used this pattern a million times and with all the different materials the skirt seems a little different each time.

This is the same pattern just the blocks were cut a tad bigger. I also did a bunny applique on the tank to make a set. I loved this material!! It is sparkly in the fabric. It is called urban angel by studio e. They had it at my mill end textiles and I grabbed what was left....not much. Pink is my downfall anything that is pink my eyes drift towards and I HAVE to have it. I was so happy to have a little girl because I have a feeling my little boy would be wearing a lot of pink much to my hubby's dismay.

How time flies

I have been sewing I just haven't been blogging about it. I have been blogging about my bunnies! I show american fuzzy lops and that has been a huge part of my last couple years. Now that fall is approaching I find myself at my machine sewing more. I spend most my time making my daughter clothes and the other time is spent quilting or making other crafts. I made this back to school outfit for her now that she started preschool she needs to be stylin'. The teachers commented on how they all look forward to seeing what she is wearing the next time at school! Those are big expectations to live up to to try and create something new each week;) This fabric is from Robert Kaufman it is a corduroy material and is super soft and lightweight. I love it. The pants are the bella pants. I have used this pattern so many times for pants for her over the last couple years. Every time she wears a pair someone always comments on them I am also a sucker for ruffles! The shirt is from baby gap and I just appliqued some material on it to make it a matching set.

gonna finish my UFO's

So I am going to work on getting some of my UFO's finished before I start some new ones. This dress was started at least a year or more ago for my daughter and all it needed was buttonholes and the buttons which have been sitting waiting patiently for me and a needle. Not sure why it took so long to finish since my machine makes doing buttonholes a breeze. So now that my daughter has grown like a weed this dress is more like a long shirt it will be cute without any bottoms but if I can find some of the same material around, a pair of bloomers would be adorable too. Hopefully it still fits this spring but I guess a cream shirt under would work too. Kids can pretty much pull anything off

Easter dress

I went to joann''s yesterday and bought some cute fabric for Presley' easter dress that I just decided to make the other day. This pink fabric is just adorable and it was in the clearance section for 2.00 a yard so I bought what was left and figure it will get used for something. I am such a fan of pink and have a hard time resisting anything that is pink! I can't believe how fast Easter crept up and it is even later this year. So I have to whip it up quickly today I need it done asap so I can get her pics taken in it and send out a Easter card for everyone. I have been getting all my cards out either late or on the day of the holiday lately. Well at least they are getting in the mail so that is an accomplishment.

well I finished her dress. It turned out cute. I used this pattern but altered it a little because I wanted more of the bottom to be the pink material. That material was a little more sensitive to work with but I just love the look of it. It is so shabby and romantic. Not that I was going for a romantic look for a 2y.o. but I couldn't think of another word to describe it. I love the look of the sleeves I just left the edges raw I think they will be fine. I am so excited to see it on her after her nap. Now I just have to wait until the chicks arrive on monday and hopefully get a cute pic of her and the chicks for a Easter card. I am sure I'll have to wash it after the photo shoot with chicken poop all over it!!!! Oh well clothes are meant to be worn and get dirty.

practice skirt

So I got my pattern and material in the mail so I whipped out a practice skirt to see how I liked it. The skirt is super simple and it turned out good. I don't like the material so much but it was in my stash and it was cheap to practice with. I didn't want to use my good stuff for the trial run. I will wear this one too but not loving it. It is a fun bright color for summer. I am so excite to make the one with my new material it is even prettier in person and such a soft cotton. I think it will lay much better than this stiffer material I used on this skirt. Don't mind my white pastey legs I do live in MN and only see the sun for about 5 minutes a year!!! Well that and being a strawberry blonde with freckles doesn't help either.....oh yeah and already having skin cancer..... Anyhooo I like the skirt but hoping to make this next one a wee bit smaller cuz I just have to lose a few lbs. before summer!!! I am going to the dentist on wed. I'll ask if he'll wire my mouth shut!!!

bella pants

So since I am waiting on my goodies to come in the mail I needed to get a sewing fix in today. I decided to make another pair of pants for my daughter since all her 2t pants have become high waters. I love this little pattern for a quick pair of pants. It goes perfect with this shirt she already had. I used what was in my stash and my poor stash has become quite depleted which is a good thing because I have been wanting to use up what I have but I have run out of things to make new. 

Bright summer dress

I wasn't in the mood to work on my quilt projects so I picked this fun bright fabric out of my stash to make my fave dress pattern for Presley. The pattern can be used as a long top or a dress. Very versatile you can just shorten the hem. My girl is going to have so many dresses for summer. I really should make a few and start selling them on Etsy I'm just trying to perfect my sewing on the serger. I have a few patterns from pink fig and they are all really great and easy to follow. My next pattern that I want to try just came out and it will be great for summer too.  I love how the edges are just finished with a rolled hem it is so quick and easy versus pressing them all under twice and sewing. My serger just zips thru the material. I just have a hard time at the start and finish point and how to secure that?? I am doing what works for now but I know it isn't right. They better call me back for when they are setting up some serger classes very soon. I also love shirring. I want to find a pattern for a top in my size or maybe I'll try to make up a pattern of my own but I'm not too good at that sort of thing.  I do have a store bought dress that uses it so maybe I can try to figure it out from that. I think presley is pretty set on summer dresses/skirts I need to work on some for me. I love wearing skirts all summer. I am SO NOT a shorts girl. I don't wear shorts ever I just don't like them.

thrift store redo

I found this house coat at a thrift store for $2.95 and I really liked the material so I figured I could use it for something. I decided Presley needed another skirt. So this is a tutorial for a 2T/3T skirt using this housecoat. Depending on your child's size you can alter the dimensions. 

I first cut the bottom off of the housecoat at 11". That way I could use the bottom hem that was already done. The width of the piece is about 22" but if yours is smaller of bigger it doesn't matter you will just either gather less or more to match up with the band

For the band  I cut 12" in using the one finished side as a fold and cut 5" for the height. So if you were to lay it flat it would be 24"x5"

Then sew the open side using a 1/4" seam allowance with right sides together.

Then gather the top of the skirt section so it will match up to the band. Pin with right sides together and sew using 1/4" seam allowance. Then zig zag or finish the ends the way you like.

Then press the seam towards the top of the skirt and then top stitch 1/8" around the band.

Then turn the top of the band under 1/4" and press and then turn it under 1 1/2" and press.

Next top stitch 1/8" from the top and an 1/8" from the bottom to create the casing for the elastic. Make sure to leave an opening at the bottom to thread thru your elastic. Use 1" width elastic. Next measure the child's waist and cut the elastic about 1" smaller. Thread thru casing and sew close.

Now your skirt is done. That was so quick and easy. 

My skirt still needs a little more because the housecoat had big slits on the sides and I wanted to close them up for my daughter. So I got creative and used the buttons from the top of the housecoat. Because I am lazy I just carefully cut around the seams so I left the buttons in place and could just sew them down onto the skirt. I got lucky and it had an even number of buttons so I cut them in half so there would be 3 one each side of the skirt.

I zig-zagged the slits shut so it would be easier to pin and sew the buttons down. Then I pinned it to the skirt and sewed very close to the edges.

here is the skirt modeled by my lovely daughter. I just happened to have a matching purple shirt so we are in business!! I do have leftovers of the housecoat but not sure if there is enough for a top. If you have any questions just leave me a message. This is my first time trying to explain a tutorial so hopefully I made sense. If you make a skirt from this tute I would love to see it. Just post your link. 

valentine skirt

I had leftovers from the quilt so I made a patchwork skirt for valentine's day. I will probably get a  shirt and applique some material with a heart to match. Nothing cuter than a little girl in skirts. I love their little legs. Not sure how well the legwarmers I made will go but I am sure they will blend ok. It is a hard pink and red to find to match. Most pinks are so cool but this is almost a warm pink that you don't see as often. The legwarmers are white and the skirt is more off white/cream.  I made it a little big so she can wear it for quite awhile. Even though it is a great valentine's fabric it still works for a daily skirt too and just not for the holiday. Last night I had the house to myself so I got some serious sewing time in. I worked on a couple more baby quilts.  I have a bunch of flannel I want to put to use but just not sure what to do. I have used some for pj bottoms and some for rag quilts but what else should I do??? I need some inspiration. I might stop at the library tomorrow and try to find some craft/quilting books to find some new things to try. I could use another pincushion they are always in demand around here. I am always running back and forth grabbing one to bring at my work areas.

legwarmers

I found these cute socks at walmart.  They are knee high adult socks and I thought they would make cute legwarmers for P. I cut the feet off and sewed the edges on my machine. I am thinking it would have turned out better on my serger but maybe I will try on another pair. I really like the waviness along the bottom so I think next time I will pull the material a little more while I sew to get more of that look. I did each one a little different so the one is more wavy than the other but not too noticeable. If it bugs me too much I can cut the bottoms a little and resew.  They are going to look cute with a valentine dress that I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do for it. 

v-neck dress

Here is another dress from the gracie pattern. I am into paisley right now. I have always loved paisley it was popular in the 80's and I am such a 80's girl. It has made a big comeback in fabrics lately so I am loving it. I am trying to find some fun paisley fabric for a tote for me for spring.  I love the rolled hem edge on this dress. It saves so much time and I really like the look of it thanks to my new serger I got for Christmas...thanks Greg you're the best husband. It saves so much time when it comes to making clothes. I need to call and get signed up for classes so I can use it to it's full potential. I think I am done making skirts and dresses for Presley for a little while. She is pretty set for spring/summer. I think I want to try working on jean embellishing.  I started quilting the wizard of oz quilt and ran out of white thread. How did that happen??? I thought I was stocked up but they are in cream and natural.....no white. I put in an order but it will be a few days before I get it in. I might just have to run to Joann's and pick up a small spool to finish my quilt. I also think I need to pick up some fabric for the binding I am not seeing anything in my stash that will work.  I have a couple other small projects that I am working on and my goal is to finish them before I start anything new. That is a huge challenge for me. I get bored so easily and start new stuff before I finish the old. That is a goal for 2009....finish a WIP before starting a new. Unless I run out of something and can't finish it. 

Gracie dress

Here is a dress I did from one of the patterns from "gracie' from sandi henderson. I just need to find 2 buttons and sew them on and it is done. I ran out of material and the bottom should have been more ruffled but I just had to make it the same size as the next tier up. I really love this blue fabric it is not something I usually buy but I went out of my color box and I really like it. Now we just need to wait for warmer weather before she can adorn this lil' cutie. I love the neckline on it even though it was a little bit of a pain to get right. I think I need to find a pattern for a shirt with this neckline for me. I think amy butler's tunic it sort of like it. I might have to try that this spring.